Victorian plane passenger tested for coronavirus as hospitals brace for 'tens of thousands' of COVID-19 cases
ABCA man who flew into Avalon Airport on Tuesday morning is one of hundreds of people who have been tested for coronavirus in Victoria, as the state's hospitals prepare for the pandemic phase of the outbreak. Key points: The State Government expects the virus to begin spreading within the Victorian community Measures are being considered to free up hospital space Extra funding for the Doherty Institute will go towards coronavirus testing and treatments Paramedics were called to meet the commercial flight the man was travelling on at the airport about 11:30am after he showed signs of being unwell. If the man tests positive for coronavirus he would be the state's tenth coronavirus case, as the Government warns there could be delays to elective surgeries once the disease begins to sp A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said other passengers on the plane were allowed to go home, but would be notified if the man, aged in his 30s, tested positive to the virus. "That's why we're creating additional space, doing that detailed planning work, so that the inevitable large number of people who will be presenting to hospitals who wouldn't normally be there can have every confidence that they'll get the very best care possible." Virus researchers get funding boost Mr Andrews also announced that the State Government would be providing $6 million to Melbourne's Doherty Institute — a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital — to work with the Burnet Institute and other experts to fast-track new treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.